Vehicle signal light



March 20, 1956 G. A. KNAPP 2,739,224

VEHICLE SIGNAL LIGHT Filed Jan. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 g rea 't 30 Q6 51 39 mmxmy 22 U M 2/ K 20 v, 29 2/ 2'7 22 x IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent-'0 VEHICLE SIGNALLEGHT 'GeorgeA. Knapp; De Witt, N; Y., assiguor to 'R. E. Dietz .Company, Syracuse, N. Y.

This-invention relates to signal units or lights su'chfor example as may be nsed'on motor vehicles for indicating thata turn of 'the vehicle in either direction is contemplated.

One of 'theobjects of this invention is to provide a-"signal light of improved and simplified construction in which the housing and lens supporting parts arepermanently mounted on a base, thus providing a complete-assembly for holding a lens and gasket. A further object isto provides signal light of this type witha split flexible housing permanently securedto a base at a portion thereo-f adjacent-to the split'and having the othenendr'eleasably clampedtdthe base to contract the housing-about-a l'ens, and to permit the housing when not clamped" to be -expanded to release'the lens. A further obje'ctis'to' provide a" light of this kind which is so constructed-that a sin'gle screw or fastening device secures all parts'of the'signal light together, so that when alight bulb is to be renewed or alens replaced, only one screw need be actuated to permit access to the interior of the housing. -It is alsoa an object of this invention to providea housingof this 'type constructed to-securely press a lens toward a gasket to *forrrra'weather-tight seal. A further-object is to provide a signal light with a bolt for securingothe' same to apart of a vehicle, which boltalso serves to connect -parts of the signal light to each other.

Other objects and advantages will be I apparent irom the following description of one embodiment. of t-he invention-and the novel features will be particularlypoint'eid out hereinafter in connection with the...app'ended claims.

intheaccompanying'drawings: "Fig. l-is a 'side elevation of -a signal light-embodying "this invention. Fig.' 2 is a frontelevation thereof. l Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional i-plan view ithereofsion an enlarged scale, on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

"Fig. 4 is a central sectional-elevation thereofgoniline 4'--'-'4, Fig.'-3.

-Figs 5 and' 6-are sectionalviews thereof, on'zilines 5--'-:-5 and=6-' -6 respectively, Fig. 4.

The signal light or unit includes. a: body orshonsing-cIS :in the form of'a flexible split ringtor band provided at opposite edges thereof -with "inwardlyzextendingxflanges 16 for engaging the'edge'portion of a 'lens'.or.lenses..1'7 :when the split housing is contracted. 18zrepresents-2a 'base; which" may, for example, be offinverteducupe-shape which maybe suitably secured toany .desirdpartnofea vehicle, ian elasticrpad- 19 beingprovided whichrrisinterit posed-between thevbase. 18 and. a part 40. of'. a"='vehie1e. ="ne oftthe lenses may be replaced by'means ofranopaque :back' plate; if; it is :notanecessary. for alight torshowa-in -'oppositedirections from the signal lightiormnit.

Arranged within the housing is a lenssupportlflwhieh isinttheform of acontintlous ring fitting within the housing-15 and havinginwardly bentflanges ZLatppposite .edges thereof. This ring. maybe formed ofialfiatstrip of metal -bent into circular .form .and havingstheaends thereoftsecuredtogether intany. suitable. manner forsex- 2 -ample','liby-welding as shown-at 23, Fig.5. The flanges 2170f the lens supporting ring are" formed to cooperate with .thei-inner'peripheral portions of 'the' l'enses and'flexible'zgaskets' 22. are" positioned between the flanges '21 and the :innerrperi'pheral portions of the lenses '17 and 'the f flanges-'16 ofuthe housing cooperate with the outwardly 'facingrp'eripheral. portions of the lenses so ithat the lenses will be supported between the flanges 16 and '21.

.The 'lensi'supporting member'or: ring-'20 'andeaziportion --of the split ring adjacent ton-the'splitare rigidly secured tortherbase 18am any suitable manner. In the'construc- 2' t'ion illustrated, the base 18 -is'-providedwith:anrnpper wall 24vhaving" a centrally :arranged =annular depression 25 therein, see Fig. 4, and aicentral hole orperforation.

:The "lens retaining? member or: ring 22 land-apart: of the housing 15 are also provided with depressions formed to. nest :in the depression 25,' to.t"facilitate the -cor-recttassemblw and secure: :mounting of these: parts-:onthe base,

:and suitable-iaperturesrare. also provided on: these parts which, when :alined' withrthez-aperture in. the base-perniit a boltlzfi to pass through these alined apertures for-rigidly securing these parts tdthebase. The bolt shownfforthis purpose is provided with-ahead 27 'whi'ch bears against -=the innerfaceof the lens supporting member 0rr ring-t22 e and has :the shank thereofprovided.".adjacent -to the rhead withta fpart -28 of slightly larger- :dimensionthan the di- :ameter:of=.thebody portion-and which i'stoft-squaret tor other'non-oi-rcular cross section. The. enlargedpontioni28 vofethe boltaafterthe same: has, passed ithroughhthe-ialined 3o wapentu-res in; the -l'ens:supp0rti1'1g' ring,- theohousinghand thebasetrise swaged :ory peined' over' 'as clearly: showni in Fig. 4,; to form a firm connection between these-ipart's.

The bolt, ofi course, is swaged-over when the housing-and dens supporting memberare arranged withthe-flangesthfi and 21 tthereof equally spaced-apart to receive thetlenses.

:The shank. of .thebolt'may be: secured'toany suitable-suppporting part'40of an automobile in the usualrnanner, for

:example by: at-nutsas shown inFigs l. and-2. The belt tis preferably :hollow orv rdrilled lengthwise to receive-Y an '40 t olectricalt conductor 39' as hereinafter explained.

As will be noted from the foregoing description thc .ahollowbolt 26 serves not only the pmpose-ofseouring l the signalolighton a vehicle, bnt also serves -to-vfiorms-ta rigid. connection between the housing, -the lenssupport aandsthe base. .The constructiondescribedsalsosformsea secure and? rigid connection between the boltanduthe'. sig- -nal1 light. Furthermore, the. bolt serves as-a'conduit- -for the electrical conductor 39. leading to. the .lightbulb. This -.const-ruction, consequently, greatly simplifies the construction and .facilitates the manufactureaof t-he signal .ulights.

- The split housing may be contracted about thetlenses sand. the. ring-20in any suitable .or desired manner t'o seourelyi hold the lenses in place, andtin the construction shownby way of example for-thispnrpose, the end of -thehousing-adjacent to the split which is not-secured to the. basev 18'is provided with a bracket-29 havingan outwardly-extending lugor part provided withran aperture through which a screw 30 may extend. The base 18-is m provided with a threaded hole in which..the--screw .en-

gages. Consequently, by tigh-teningthe screw, :the hous- ...ing mayabe contracted to secure the lensesinplace and-to .finmly connect the otherend .of the-ihousingwitht the Ebase.

.Preferably a piece of flexible paekingmaterialL32. is clamped by means of a bolt 26 between the housinglSand the lens support or ring 20, one end of this material also extending under the free end of the splithousing .and the. lens-supporting member to formwa water-tightconinaction (between the 1 housing andthe, lens-supporting member.

Y'Within the lens-supporting member .a; suitable light source, such as an electric light bulb 35, is arranged. This w light bulb fits into a socket 36 of any suitable or usual construction and the base of the socket is securely mounted on a rigid supporting bracket or strap .37. The portion of the bracket on which the light socket is mounted extends over the bolt head 27 and is provided with an aperture positioned in alinement with the bore of the hollow bolt 26. The socket member 36 is provided with a similar aperture so that a conductor 39 may extend through the hollow bolt and bracket 37 into the socket for connection with the light bulb. The bracket 37 may be secured to the lens-supporting member 20 in any suitable or desired manner, for example, by riveting or otherwise securing an oflset portion 45 to the lens-supporting member 20, as shown in Fig. 4. Other means for r mounting the light bulb within the signal light housing may be provided if desired.

' The flanges 16 of the housing, as clearly shown in Fig.

4,are.bent inwardly to a slight extent into substantially -frusto-conical form, extending inwardly at an acute angle 'to a radial plane of the light,'thus flaring laterally or axially to a slight extent away from the interior of the light housing and toward an extension of the axis of the signal light. As a result of this construction, it will be noted that when the housing is contracted, for example, by means of the screw 39, this contraction results not only in a gripping of the lenses, but also the flare of the flanges forces these lenses toward the centralradial plane of the light housing, thus compressing the gaskets 22 against the flanges 21 of the lens-supporting member 20. This inward movement of the lenses, consequently, results in a compression of the gaskets 22 in a manner to exclude moisture and other foreign material from the interior of the light housing. This inward flaring exerted by the flaring shoulders or flanges 16 against the lens, the gasket and the flanges of the lens-supporting member 20 also holds these parts against rattling or vibration. The same result,

of course, can be accomplished ifith'e peripheral portion of the lens engaged by the inwardly extending flange 16 of the housing flares with reference to a radial plane of the light in the same manner as the flare of the flange 16, whichhas been described, or, if desired, both the flange and the outer edge portion of the lens engaged thereby may be flared.

By means of the construction described, a strong and durable signal light is produced. The housing, the base and the lens-supporting member are all rigidly secured together and to the supporting bolt 26, so that all of the main structural parts of the signal light remain firmly secured together when the clamping screw 30 is released and the housing expanded. This eliminates the hazard of losing one or more structural parts of the signal light when the same is o'penedand also makes it impossible to incorrectly assemble the same after replacing a light bulb or a lens. When the housing is contracted by means of the screw 30, the lens or lenses will be rigidly clamped in place. In order to remove and replace the light bulb or lens, it is merely necessary to remove the screw 30 and to separate the parts of the housing at the split to the desired extent to permit removal of the lens or lenses so that access may be had to the interior of the housing. The construction is, therefore, compact and requires no expert service.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A signal light including an annular split flexible housing, a lens, an annular lens-supporting member arranged concentrically within said housing, a base hav' ing an upper wall, said housing, said lens-supportingmembet and said base having alined apertures therein, a holthe apertured parts into fixed relation to each other, said housing and lens-supporting member having inwardly extending flanges between which said lens is supported,.a light bulb mounted within said lens-supporting member, a conductor extending through said housing and lenssupporting member and connected with said light bulb, and clamping means for drawing the ends of said housing at said split toward each other to grip said lens.

2, A signal light including a lens, an annular split flex ible housing having an aperture extending through an end portion thereof adjacent to said split, an annular lens-supporting member arranged within said housing concentric therewith and also provided with an aperture, a base having an upper wall with an aperture therein, a hollow bolt extending through said aperture of said housing, said lenssupporting member and said base and securing said apertured parts together, said housing and said lens-supporting member'having inwardly extending flanges between which.

said lensis supported, alight bulb supported within said signal light, a current-carrying conductor passing through said hollow bolt to said light bulb, and clamping means engaging the other end portionof said housing and said base for contracting said housing about said lens to hold the same between said flanges.

3. A signal light including a lens, an annular split flexible housing having an aperture extending through an end portion thereof adjacent to said split, a lens-supporting member arranged within said housing and also provided with an aperture, a base having an upper wall with an aperture therein, said apertures of said housing, said lens supporting member and said base being alined, a hollow alinement with said hollow bolt,'and a conductor extending through said hollow bolt and said aperturein said socket and electrically connected with said light bulb,

and clamping means for drawing the ends of said housingat said split toward each other to grip said lens.

4. A signal light according to claim 3 and including a rigid supporting bracket secured to said lens-supporting member and to which said socket is secured, said socket and said bracket having alined apertures arranged substantially in alinement with said hollow bolt and through which said conductor passes for contact with said light bulb.

'5. A signal light including an annular split flexible housing, a lens, a lens-supporting member arranged within said housing in position to engage a part of the inner surface of said lens, a base having an upper wall, said housing, said lens-supporting member and said base having alined apertures therein, a hollow bolt extending through said apertures for securing the apertured parts into fixed relation to each other, said housing and lenssupporting members having inwardly extending flanges between which said lens is supported, a light bulb mounted within said lens-supporting member, a conductor extending through said housing and lens-supporting member and connected with said light bulb, clamping means for drawing the ends of said housing at said split toward each other to grip said lens, said inwardly extending flange of said housing flaring outwardly from said housing, a flexible annular gasket interposed between said flange of said lens-supporting member and said lens, whereby said clamping means, when drawing the ends of said housing toward each other, exerts pressure in a direction axially of said housing for compressing said gasket between said lens and the flange of said lens-supporting member.

6. A signal light including an annular split flexible housing, a lens, an annular lens-supporting member arranged concentrically within said housing, a base having an upper wall, a bolt for attaching said signal light to a part of a vehicle, said base, said housing and said lens supporting member having alined apertures through which said bolt extends, said bolt having a head engaging said lens-supporting member and a part peined against the lower face of said wall of said base and securing said housing, said lens-supporting member and said base in fixed relation to each other, said base having a threaded part extending below said base for attachment to a part of a vehicle, a clamping member connecting said split ends of said housing for contracting said housing about said lens, a light bulb in said housing, said bolt being hollow,

and an electrical conductor extending through said hollow bolt and connected with said light bulb.

7. A signal light for mounting on a vehicle and including a lens, an annular split flexible housing which grips said lens when the housing is contracted, a base for supporting said housing on a part of a vehicle, a hollow externally threaded bolt for securing said light to a vehicle part and having one end thereof connected with said housing, said housing having an aperture in alinement with said bolt and said base having an aperture through which said bolt extends, a rigid strap arranged within said housing and having an aperture in alinement with said bolt, a light socket secured to said strap, and a conductor extending through said hollow bolt and said aperture in said strap and said housing and connected with said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,044 Otte Nov. 18, 1919 1,401,988 Knapp Jan. 3, 1922 1,583,677 Edelmann May 4, 1926 2,614,207 Smith Oct. 14, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 571,756 Great Britain Sept. 7, 1945 

